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Letter: Hubbard County is not immune to hatred

Recently, The Tribune shared the editorial from the Park Rapids Enterprise about the violence in Charlottesville and the wisdom and power in nonviolent protest.

In that editorial it was stated, "Here in Hubbard County, we're isolated from the kind of hate filled groups that gathered in Charlottesville."

Let us say that we have experienced hate-filled people in significant numbers as we have exercised our First Amendment Rights holding signs like, "Trump and Republicans, keep your hands off our health care," or "Show us your taxes: What are you hiding?"

We have had things thrown at us. We have had a man destroy one of our signs and physically threaten us until stopped by local police. Dozens and dozens of people have made obscene gestures as well as many obscenities being shouted at us. Shockingly, they have even done this with their children in the car with them.

Some have stopped in front of us with diesel trucks, revved their engines and covered us with black smoke and then laid rubber to show their disapproval. There is some humor, as many also yelled, "Get a job" to us, when the four of us who have regularly protested at the corner of highways 71 and 34 are all retired after 35 years or more of work as clergy, public servant, accountant and a career soldier and combat veteran.

We fully and wholeheartedly agree with the non-violent approach being the ONLY way to bring about real change. But Hubbard County, sadly, is not immune to the same kind of hatred that brought death and violence to a usually quiet college town like Charlottesville. - Howie and Linda Anderson, Ponsford